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Investigation continues into Yorkville Fire

Fire marshals ramped up their investigation Sunday into a three-alarm blaze that decimated two Yorkville restaurants on Thursday.

Firefirghters work to put out a fire on Avenue Rd. in Yorkville that destroyed two restaurants, Sotto Sotto, and Spuntini's Ristorante on Dec. 25. (Marta Iwanek / Toronto Star) | Order this photo

By Sidney CohenStaff Reporter

Sun., Dec. 28, 2014

Fire marshals ramped up their investigation Sunday into a three-alarm blaze that decimated two Yorkville restaurants on Thursday.

Heavy equipment will be used to pick through debris and help make it safe for investigators as they set out to determine the cause and origin of the fire, said Cpt. Mike Strapko of Toronto Fire Services.

Fire marshals predict their investigation will take “a few days,” he said.

“It’s going to be a slow process because the interior of the building has collapsed,” said Strapko. “They have to go about it slowly so they don’t get injured as they’re going through the process.”

Typically, said Strapko, fire marshals can determine where a fire started by looking for “the deepest charred area, where the fire has burned the deepest.”

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The blaze had overtaken all three floors of the building at 116 Avenue Rd. when fire crews arrived on scene shortly before 7:30 p.m. Christmas Day. They continued dousing “hot spots” into Friday.

“We did go into the inside of the building at first, but just for a short time. We had to retreat because the fire was too intense inside and the building was structurally unsafe,” said Strapko.

The blaze gutted Yorkville restaurants Sotto Sotto and Spuntini’s Ristorante and Bar, causing about $1 million in damage. The building just south at 114 Avenue Rd. was also affected.

No one was injured in the fire, as both restaurants were closed at the time.

Sotto Sotto hosted many celebrity guests – including Oprah Winfrey, Brad Pitt and Bill Murray – during its more than two-decade run.

Toronto rapper Drake called the eatery his “second home” in a tribute post on Instagram.

Fire Services said there is not enough information to deem the fire suspicious at this time.

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